As a huge fan of Dean Martin, this has long been one of my favorite Dino pics. And the pairing of Dean and Stella is just perfect.
Dean Martin plays an executive type who is best friends with Eli Wallach, a department store executive. Wallach is having an affair, and Dean advises him to go back to his wife. Dean sets out to prove that the lady Wallach is having an affair with is a pure and simple opportunist. Meanwhile, Dean mistakenly thinks Stella Stevens is the woman Wallach is having an affair with; she works in the department store Wallach owns. Instead, he is having an affair with Anne Jackson, who is every bit the wonderful woman Wallach thinks she is. Through a series of misunderstandings, Wallach comes to believe Dean's advice and dumps Jackson and goes on an ill-fated trip with his wife. Dean and Stella Stevens get wrapped up in a fake affair that starts with Dean trying to prove she is unworthy to be Wallach's mistress. Of course we know that Dean and Stella, and Wallach and Jackson will live happily ever after, but it's a great trip to see how that comes about.
While this was written by Stanley Shapiro, who wrote 3 of Doris Day's biggest hit films, I don't see this as a Doris Day/Rock Hudson type picture, although admittedly there are some similarities. Dean had a very different persona than Hudson, and this film required a male lead who could play things tongue in cheek...and Dean does to the max. Doris Day was usually somewhat sophisticated in her films, but Stella Stevens plays her role as an almost simple woman (not dumb, just totally uncomplicated, and rather unsophisticated...but not in a manner-less way); and Stevens plays it brilliantly, perhaps making this one of her best roles.
I've never quite decided on whether or not this was a good role for Eli Wallach. It certainly is a different role for him. I wouldn't say he has comedic talent, but perhaps it needed to be played straight. Anne Jackson -- Wallach's real-life wife -- is great as the mistress. Betty Field has some good scenes as an older mistress (now alone) living in the same building. It's nice to see Jack Albertson as something other than the man in "Chico And The Man". Alan Oppenheimer has a very funny stint as a store manager who likes to seduce female sales associates.
This is a very cleverly written movie, with nary a non-funny scene throughout! Excellent dialog that leads to tons of misunderstandings. A lesser writer than Shapiro couldn't have come up with such a complicated and thoroughly humorous script without missing a few beats...but no beats are missed here! Most of Dean's movies get a "7" rating from me, but this one is good enough (if you like drawing room comedies) for me to give it an "8".
Dean Martin plays an executive type who is best friends with Eli Wallach, a department store executive. Wallach is having an affair, and Dean advises him to go back to his wife. Dean sets out to prove that the lady Wallach is having an affair with is a pure and simple opportunist. Meanwhile, Dean mistakenly thinks Stella Stevens is the woman Wallach is having an affair with; she works in the department store Wallach owns. Instead, he is having an affair with Anne Jackson, who is every bit the wonderful woman Wallach thinks she is. Through a series of misunderstandings, Wallach comes to believe Dean's advice and dumps Jackson and goes on an ill-fated trip with his wife. Dean and Stella Stevens get wrapped up in a fake affair that starts with Dean trying to prove she is unworthy to be Wallach's mistress. Of course we know that Dean and Stella, and Wallach and Jackson will live happily ever after, but it's a great trip to see how that comes about.
While this was written by Stanley Shapiro, who wrote 3 of Doris Day's biggest hit films, I don't see this as a Doris Day/Rock Hudson type picture, although admittedly there are some similarities. Dean had a very different persona than Hudson, and this film required a male lead who could play things tongue in cheek...and Dean does to the max. Doris Day was usually somewhat sophisticated in her films, but Stella Stevens plays her role as an almost simple woman (not dumb, just totally uncomplicated, and rather unsophisticated...but not in a manner-less way); and Stevens plays it brilliantly, perhaps making this one of her best roles.
I've never quite decided on whether or not this was a good role for Eli Wallach. It certainly is a different role for him. I wouldn't say he has comedic talent, but perhaps it needed to be played straight. Anne Jackson -- Wallach's real-life wife -- is great as the mistress. Betty Field has some good scenes as an older mistress (now alone) living in the same building. It's nice to see Jack Albertson as something other than the man in "Chico And The Man". Alan Oppenheimer has a very funny stint as a store manager who likes to seduce female sales associates.
This is a very cleverly written movie, with nary a non-funny scene throughout! Excellent dialog that leads to tons of misunderstandings. A lesser writer than Shapiro couldn't have come up with such a complicated and thoroughly humorous script without missing a few beats...but no beats are missed here! Most of Dean's movies get a "7" rating from me, but this one is good enough (if you like drawing room comedies) for me to give it an "8".